CHAPTER 25: PHRASAL VERBS



CHAPTER 25: PHRASAL VERBS.

This chapter is designed to present a small sample of the innumerable phrasal verbs that the English language so commonly uses, with a brief explanation of their meanings, and an example of each one chosen. We have tried to concentrate on examples which will be useful either because their sense is not necessarily obvious, or because there are different possible meanings, and have deliberately left out some of the more simple and obvious ones which pupils would be expected to already know by the time they tackle this chapter. (Those verbs marked with an asterisk follow the rule given in 22.6 concerning the order of complements; otherwise the two elements are inseparable.)

25.1 TO BE

to be about to: to be on the point of

He was about to leave when we arrived.

to be after: to want to find or get

What's he after? - He's after a loan, I think.

to be behind: to be late or delayed

That girl's always behind with her work.

to be off:

1. to be leaving, to be going away

I'm off now, see you tomorrow!

2. to have gone bad

I'm not eating that fish, I'm sure it's off.

3. to be free, not to have to work

I'm off at six, so I'll see you at half past.

4. to be cancelled

I'm afraid the trip's off because of the weather.

to be onto: to have found, to have discovered

That guy knows when he's onto a good thing

to be out for: to be hoping to find

Most of them were only out for a bit of fun.

to be out of: not to have any more

I'm out of cash - can you lend me a fiver?

to be over: to be finished

I'll be glad when all this is over.

to be up:

1. to be out of bed

It's half past nine - aren't you up yet, Jennifer?

(to be up and about: to have recovered, to be much better)

You'll soon be up and about again, Gran!

2. to have gone wrong, to be the matter

What's up with that old car of yours this time?

3. (of time,) to be finished

Stop writing, please, your ten minutes are up.

to be up against: to be confronted by

He's up against all sorts of problems in his new job.

to be up to:

1. to be doing (something that you shouldn't be doing)

What were you up to with my sister last night?

2. to be fit for or capable of

I don't think he's really up to playing in the first team.

3. to be someone's responsibility

It's up to you to decide, you're the boss!

25.2 TO BREAK

to break down:

1. (*) to smash, to destroy

They had to break down the door in order to escape.

2. to stop working, to malfunction

The number five tram broke down again this morning.

3. to collapse physically, mentally or emotionally.

I suppose he broke down under the strain of teaching English to such a horde of young savages.

to break in (or into something:)

1. to enter by force

Smith was arrested for breaking into a baker's.

2. to interrupt

I wish you'd stop breaking in when I'm talking!

to break off:

1. (*) to detach, to separate

Can you break me off a bit of bread please?

2. (*) to put an end to

She broke off our engagement after only three weeks.

to break out:

1. to escape

Nobody's ever broken out from that prison before.

2. to begin suddenly, (of something dramatic)

War could break out at any moment in the Middle East.

to break up:

1. to finish working, (for the day, or to start the holidays)

The staff meeting broke up at around six-thirty, (and school breaks up on the thirtieth.)

2. to part, to split

They finally broke up because of mutual incompatibility.

25.3 TO BRING

to bring back: (*) to recall (sth. to someone's mind)

Hearing that song always brings back fond memories.

to bring down:

1. (*) to reduce

These measures should help to bring prices down.

2. (*) to cause to fall

That latest spy scandal nearly brought the government down.

to bring forward: (*) to put at an earlier date or time

Let's bring the meeting forward to the fifth.

to bring in:

1. (*) to earn

This extra job brings me in quite a lot of money.

2. (*) to introduce

The new minister has brought in quite a lot of changes.

to bring on: (*) to cause to happen

What on earth brought on that sudden change of heart?

to bring out: (*) to reveal

A glass of port brings out the devil in Penelope.

to bring round, (or to bring to:) (*) to revive

I think a drop of brandy would perhaps bring him round (bring him to.)

to bring up:

1. (*) to educate

You can tell that they were well brought up, can't you?

2. (*) to raise ( a point, or question)

I'd like to bring up the matter of our pay rise.

3. (*) to vomit

She ate some oysters, and then brought the lot up!

25.4 TO CALL

to call for:

1. to come and get, to collect

I'll call for you at about eight-fifteen.

2. to necessitate

This provocation calls for an immediate reaction, I feel.

to call off: (*) to cancel

The party's been called off because Dave's ill.

to call on:to go and visit (briefly)

Call on me any time you like, I'm always in.

to call out: (*) to shout, to exclaim

He called out her name, but she didn't reply.

to call up:

1. (*) to summon (someone) for his military service

My cousin George is looking forward to being called up.

2. (*) to phone

I'll call them up as soon as I've got a minute.

25.5 TO COME

to come across: to find by chance

I came across this old book in a junk shop.

to come into: to receive unexpectedly, or to inherit

He came into quite a fortune when his old uncle died.

to come off: to work, to succeed

I'm afraid your idea just didn't come off.

to come out: to be published

The Guardian comes out every day except Sunday.

to come out with: to (manage to) say, to invent and tell

Is that the best explanation you can come out with?

to come over (or round:) to visit (someone's house)

Why don't you come over (come round) for a drink tonight?

to come round (or to:) to recover consciousness

He took a long time to come round (come to) after his operation.

to come up: to arise, to be mentioned

That point came up at yesterday's meeting too.

to come up to: to equal, to be as good as

Will he ever come up to his big brother's standard?

to come up with: to propose (something original)

She came up with some marvellous ideas for party games!

25.6 TO GET

to get about (or around): to travel around, (of a person or an idea)

It got about that Paul had been killed, but we soon learned the truth of the matter.

to get ahead: to make progress

A girl like that is sure to get ahead in the theatre.

to get away: to escape

You can't get away from me, Red Baron, I'll get you one day!

to get away with: to escape punishment for

That girl gets away with murder, you know!

to get behind: not to keep up

If you keep missing lessons you're bound to get behind!

to get (someone) down: to depress

All these phrasal verbs are definitely getting me down!

to get off: not to be convicted

Everybody was sure he was guilty, but he got off thanks to the skills of his lawyer.

to get on:

1. to make progress

She seems to be getting on quite well in her new job.

2. to get older

He's getting on isn't he? How old do you think he is?

(to get on or along with someone:) to be on good terms with so.

How do you manage to get on (get along) so well with that idiot?

to get out of: to break free from (an obligation)

I don't know how to get out of going to see them.

to get over (something:) to recover from

It took me ages to get over that last cold I had.

to get (something) over: to finally reach the end of

I shall be glad to get all this typing over!

to get round:

1. to persuade so. to do sth. he's not enthisiastic about

A nice bunch of flowers should help us to get round her.

2. to avoid (or perhaps solve) a problem

One way of getting round that difficulty is by rearranging the whole sentence.

to get round to: to finally find the time to do (something)

When are you going to get round to tidying your room?

to get through:

1. to get to the end of something successfully

They were pleased to get through that pile of work.

2. to make contact (by phone or radio)

I was ringing all day, but just couldn't get through.

25.7 TO GIVE

to give away: (*) to reveal, to betray

She was blushing so much that she gave away the secret.

to give in: to surrender, to yield

I'm afraid I gave in to her charms a little too easily.

to give out:

1. (*) to broadcast, to emit

The approaching aircraft was giving out some very strange signals.

2. (*) to distribute

The prizes will be given out at the Annual General Meeting.

3. to be all used up

After three weeks of the siege, the inhabitants' food supply had given out.

to give up:

1. to stop trying

We mustn't give up now after all the hard work we've done!

2. (*) to stop (doing something that you do regularly)

The doctor told me I really had to give up smoking.

25.8 TO GO

to go ahead: to (continue to) do as you wish

Nobody's stopping you, so why don't you just go ahead?

to go back on: to fail to keep (your word)

I've never known him to go back on a promise before.

to go by: to pass (in time or space)

Time seems to go by faster and faster as you get older.

to go down with: to catch (an illness)

All the kids have gone down with measles this week.

to go in for:

1. to take part in, to enter

I'm going in for the 100 metres and the long jump.

2. to do (sth.) often because you're keen on it

She's started going in for oriental cooking now.

to go into: to investigate

We'll have to go into that more deeply, I feel.

to go off:

1. to explode

A terrorist bomb went off near the station yesterday.

2. to be a success

The party went off quite well, thanks mainly to your punch!

3. to become (or go) bad

If you don't put the meat in the fridge it'll go off.

to go on:

1. to continue

They went on reading as if nothing had happened.

2. to happen

What on earth's been going on here?

(to go on at: to keep scolding)

She's always going on at me about my muddy boots!

to go over: to examine (or re-examine)

Could you just go over these sums for me, please?

to go round: to be sufficient (for everyone to have some)

Will one pot of coffee go round, or shall I make two?

to go through:

1. to endure

We just don't know what they went through during the war.

2. to examine

Let's go through those results one more time, shall we?

25.9 TO MAKE

to make for: to go towards

She was making for the exit when he called her back.

to make off: to run away

They broke into a shop and made off with the cash.

to make out:

1. (*) to see (and recognize)

I could just make out the shape of a car in the mist ahead.

2. (*) to hear (and understand)

The music was so loud we just couldn't make out the words.

3. (*) to write (a cheque)

Who do you want me to make this out to?

to make up:

1. (*) to invent

She made up a pack of lies in order to escape the blame.

2. to use cosmetics

My sister spends hours making up before she goes out.

3. to end a quarrel

Let's kiss and make up, shall we?

4. (*) to put together, to compile

They made up a list of all the presents they wanted.

(to make up for: to compensate for)

How can I ever make up for all the wrong I've done?

25.10 TO PUT

to put across (or over:) (*) to explain successfully, to communicate

He's remarkably good at putting his ideas across.

to put away: (*) to tidy up

I wish you'd put your things away when you'd finished!

to put by: (*) to save

It's nice to have something put by for a rainy day.

to put off:

1. (*) to postpone

They had to put off the wedding, as the groom was drunk.

2. (*) to discourage

Instead of trying to put him off, why not just say no?

to put on: (*) to gain (weight)

How much do you reckon she's put on since last summer?

to put (someone) out: to upset (someone,) to cause a problem

I hope our sudden arrival hasn't put you out too much.

to put (someone) up: to provide a bed for

Someone in the family will be able to put us up, no doubt.

to put so. up to sth: to persuade so. to do sth. wrong

I'm sure that Penelope put him up to it!

to put up with: to tolerate, to bear

I won't put up with your insolence much longer, boy!

25.11 TO SET

to set back:

1. (*) to delay progress

The bad weather has set them back quite a lot.

2. to cost (quite a lot of money)

Ben's present set his father back 200 dollars.

to set off (or out:) to start (on a journey)

What time are you setting off tomorrow morning?

to set out (to ... :) to start with the intention of

He set out to convince us, but ended up by changing his own mind.

to set up: (*) to plan and organize

Who set up this meeting, in actual fact?

25.12 TO TAKE

to take (so.) aback: to surprise, to shock

They were rather taken aback by the latest turn of events.

to take after (so.): to resemble (generally a parent)

It's amazing how the lad takes after his old man.

to take down: (*) to note down

Did you manage to take down the gist of what he was saying?

to take in: (*) to absorb (and understand)

Children can only take in so much in a 45-minute lesson.

(to take someone in) (*) to deceive

Don't be taken in by her innocent eyes!

to take off:

1. (*) to remove

Take off your cardigan and make yourself comfortable, dear!

2. to leave the ground

What time does the Miami flight take off?

3. (*) to imitate

He's really good at taking off the headmaster.

to take on:

1. (*) to undertake (work or a responsibility)

I'd never have taken on a job like that!

2. (*) to engage, to hire

We've taken on a new chauffeur for the second Rolls.

to take over: (*) to assume control of

Who's taking over now that the old man has retired?

to take to: to start, to get to like

She's taken to going to the pictures a lot of late.

to take up:

1. (*) to begin (a hobby, a profession)

She was talking about taking up sky-diving.

2. (*) to occupy

So much time is taken up by paperwork in this job!

25.13 TO TURN

to turn back: to go back in the opposite direction

It's much too foggy to go on, we'll have to turn back.

to turn down:

1. (*) to refuse, to reject

He proposed to her, but she turned him down flat.

2. to lower the volume

Turn that radio down, please, it's driving me potty!

to turn out: (*) to finally be revealed (to be ...)

I was doubtful at first, but he turned out to be right in the end.

to turn up: to appear, to arrive unexpectedly

She turned up at about nine, much to everybody's surprise.

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